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New information released in hostage situation

Florence Police have charged 26-year-old Nicholas Colleary Hiltz in the hostage situation and burglary at a gas station early Monday morning.

The stand-off closed down main roads in Florence and delayed nearby schools opening for two hours. Florence police responded to a burglary alarm at 5:00am at the Kwik Stop gas station on Church street.

When an officer arrived, the female clerk came to the door and told the officer everything was ok, but she made hand and mouth gestures to show otherwise, letting the officer know that someone was inside and they had a weapon.

The police officer then backed off an called for assistance from the Fremont County Sheriffs Office and Canon City Police, along with other Florence officers. Florence Police Chief Mike DeLaurentis said the officers surrounded and secured the building, and when Hiltz finally realized police where on scene the situation escalated. He became very volatile and was yelling, he did several thousand dollars worth of damage inside the store.

Police said the clerk saw an opportunity to escape and made a run for the front door, she was able to make it out unharmed with the help officers. Police said at that point, Hiltz engaged in a stand off with police, barricading himself inside the store

Police said around 6:30am, when negotiations broke down with Hiltz, they used a K-9 officer to enter the store and take Hiltz into custody. He is now in the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 bond. Hiltz is charged with several felonies, including first degree kidnapping, aggravated robbery, second degree burglary, criminal mischief, theft, menacing and attempted aggravated motor vehicle theft.